Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a distinct set of patient-centered services provided by pharmacists to optimize therapeutic outcomes and improve medication safety. MTM, a key topic in the Patient Care 5 and Community IPPE curricula, represents a shift from a product-focused to a patient-focused model of pharmacy practice. This quiz will test your knowledge on the core elements of MTM, the process for identifying and resolving drug therapy problems, and the regulatory foundation for these vital clinical services.
1. Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is best described as:
- a. The technical act of dispensing a prescription.
- b. A service or group of services that optimize therapeutic outcomes for individual patients.
- c. A system for managing pharmacy inventory.
- d. The process of billing insurance companies.
Answer: b. A service or group of services that optimize therapeutic outcomes for individual patients.
2. Which piece of legislation established MTM as a required service for eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries?
- a. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.
- b. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010.
- c. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003.
- d. The Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013.
Answer: c. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003.
3. Which of the following is NOT one of the five core elements of an MTM service model as defined by APhA?
- a. Medication Therapy Review (MTR)
- b. Personal Medication Record (PMR)
- c. Prescribing Authority
- d. Medication-related Action Plan (MAP)
Answer: c. Prescribing Authority
4. A systematic process of collecting patient-specific information and assessing medications to identify and resolve drug therapy problems is called a(n):
- a. Medication-related Action Plan (MAP)
- b. Personal Medication Record (PMR)
- c. Medication Therapy Review (MTR)
- d. Intervention and Referral
Answer: c. Medication Therapy Review (MTR)
5. The “Medication-related Action Plan” (MAP) is a document intended for:
- a. The patient, to guide them in their self-management activities.
- b. The physician, to provide a list of recommendations.
- c. The insurance company, for billing purposes.
- d. The pharmacy’s internal records only.
Answer: a. The patient, to guide them in their self-management activities.
6. The “Introduction to MTM” is a specific learning module in which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5104 Sterile Compounding
- c. PHA5703 Pharmacy Law and Ethics
- d. PHA5784C Patient Care 4
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
7. A patient with hypertension is prescribed lisinopril but is not taking it because they are afraid of the cough side effect. This is an example of which type of Drug Therapy Problem (DTP)?
- a. Dose too high
- b. Needs additional drug therapy
- c. Non-adherence
- d. Unnecessary drug therapy
Answer: c. Non-adherence
8. A patient has a diagnosis of osteoporosis but is not on any medication for it, despite meeting treatment criteria. This is an example of which DTP?
- a. Ineffective drug
- b. Adverse drug reaction
- c. Needs additional drug therapy
- d. Dose too low
Answer: c. Needs additional drug therapy
9. The patient care process that provides the foundational framework for delivering MTM is the:
- a. Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
- b. Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP)
- c. SBAR communication tool
- d. Scientific method
Answer: b. Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP)
10. Which of the following is a primary goal of MTM?
- a. To increase the number of prescriptions dispensed.
- b. To improve patient outcomes and medication safety.
- c. To diagnose medical conditions.
- d. To replace the role of the physician.
Answer: b. To improve patient outcomes and medication safety.
11. Explaining the purpose of MTM services is a key objective in the Community IPPE.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
12. To be eligible for MTM under Medicare Part D, a beneficiary typically must:
- a. Have multiple chronic diseases.
- b. Take multiple Part D medications.
- c. Be likely to incur a high annual cost for covered Part D drugs.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
13. A comprehensive list of all of a patient’s medications, including prescription, OTC, and herbal products, is known as the:
- a. Medication-related Action Plan (MAP)
- b. Personal Medication Record (PMR)
- c. Medication Therapy Review (MTR)
- d. Drug Therapy Problem (DTP) list
Answer: b. Personal Medication Record (PMR)
14. The “Collect” step of the PPCP directly corresponds to which part of the MTM process?
- a. Creating the MAP.
- b. The information gathering phase of the MTR.
- c. Documenting the follow-up.
- d. Referring the patient.
Answer: b. The information gathering phase of the MTR.
15. Identifying and resolving drug-related problems is a key objective for student pharmacists.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
16. Which of the following is NOT one of the main categories of Drug Therapy Problems?
- a. Indication
- b. Efficacy
- c. Safety
- d. Cost
Answer: d. Cost
17. A patient with a history of heart failure is prescribed a TZD like pioglitazone. The pharmacist identifies this as which DTP?
- a. Dose too low
- b. Needs additional drug therapy
- c. Adverse drug reaction (or safety issue due to contraindication)
- d. Ineffective drug
Answer: c. Adverse drug reaction (or safety issue due to contraindication)
18. The MTM process is best described as:
- a. Product-focused
- b. Pharmacist-focused
- c. Patient-centered
- d. Physician-focused
Answer: c. Patient-centered
19. Which part of the MTM core elements involves the pharmacist contacting a prescriber to recommend a change in therapy?
- a. Personal Medication Record (PMR)
- b. Medication-related Action Plan (MAP)
- c. Intervention and/or Referral
- d. Medication Therapy Review (MTR)
Answer: c. Intervention and/or Referral
20. An active learning session on MTM is part of the Patient Care 5 course.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
21. A patient with hypertension has a blood pressure of 150/95 mmHg despite being adherent to their lisinopril 10 mg daily. This could be which type of DTP?
- a. Unnecessary drug therapy
- b. Dose too low
- c. Adverse drug reaction
- d. Needs additional drug therapy
Answer: b. Dose too low
22. “MTM” and “pharmacist counseling” are the exact same thing.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: b. False
23. The “Introduction to MTM, Part 1” is a lecture within the Patient Care 5 curriculum.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
24. An active learning session on urological disorders is part of which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
25. A key skill required for providing MTM is:
- a. Effective communication
- b. Clinical knowledge
- c. Systematic problem-solving
- d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above.
26. A patient is taking atorvastatin 80 mg daily and also starts taking clarithromycin. The pharmacist identifies a potential DTP related to:
- a. Indication
- b. Efficacy
- c. Safety (drug-drug interaction)
- d. Adherence
Answer: c. Safety (drug-drug interaction)
27. A comprehensive medication review (CMR) is a key component of:
- a. Dispensing a refill.
- b. A Medication Therapy Review (MTR).
- c. A root cause analysis.
- d. A financial audit.
Answer: b. A Medication Therapy Review (MTR).
28. An active learning session on MTM is part of which course module?
- a. Module 5: Urological Disorders
- b. Module 1: Diabetes Mellitus
- c. Module 3: Women’s Health
- d. Module 6: Geriatrics
Answer: a. Module 5: Urological Disorders
29. The “Implement” step of the PPCP involves:
- a. Collecting patient information.
- b. Assessing for drug therapy problems.
- c. Collaborating with the patient and provider to put the care plan into action.
- d. Scheduling a follow-up visit.
Answer: c. Collaborating with the patient and provider to put the care plan into action.
30. The Personal and Professional Development course series explores skills in MTM.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
31. Which of the following is NOT a required chronic disease for Medicare Part D MTM eligibility?
- a. Hypertension
- b. Diabetes
- c. Dyslipidemia
- d. Allergic rhinitis
Answer: d. Allergic rhinitis
32. The “Assess” step of the PPCP is where the pharmacist primarily:
- a. Gathers lab values.
- b. Analyzes the collected information to identify drug therapy problems.
- c. Creates a medication list.
- d. Counsels the patient.
Answer: b. Analyzes the collected information to identify drug therapy problems.
33. MTM services can be provided in which practice setting?
- a. Community pharmacies
- b. Hospital outpatient clinics
- c. Call centers
- d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above.
34. A patient is prescribed two different NSAIDs from two different doctors. This is what type of DTP?
- a. Dose too high
- b. Unnecessary drug therapy (therapeutic duplication)
- c. Needs additional drug therapy
- d. Non-adherence
Answer: b. Unnecessary drug therapy (therapeutic duplication)
35. Documentation of MTM services is important for:
- a. Ensuring continuity of care.
- b. Communication with other healthcare providers.
- c. Justifying reimbursement for services.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
36. A patient is prescribed an expensive brand-name drug when an equally effective, well-tolerated generic is available. While not a classic DTP, addressing this is a key part of:
- a. Optimizing the patient’s therapy.
- b. Ignoring patient costs.
- c. A medication error.
- d. Clinical inertia.
Answer: a. Optimizing the patient’s therapy.
37. MTM is a collaborative process that involves the pharmacist, the patient, and:
- a. The insurance company only.
- b. The patient’s family only.
- c. The patient’s other healthcare providers.
- d. The pharmacy technician only.
Answer: c. The patient’s other healthcare providers.
38. The lecture “Introduction to MTM, Part 2” is part of which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
39. A “take-away” for the patient from an MTM session is the:
- a. Personal Medication Record (PMR)
- b. Medication-related Action Plan (MAP)
- c. A receipt for their copay
- d. Both a and b
Answer: d. Both a and b
40. An active learning session covering MTM is part of which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
41. The core philosophy of MTM is to move the pharmacy profession beyond a focus on ____ to a focus on ____.
- a. products, patients
- b. patients, products
- c. billing, counseling
- d. counseling, billing
Answer: a. products, patients
42. Which of the following is an example of an “Indication” related DTP?
- a. A patient with heart failure not on a beta-blocker.
- b. A patient taking a medication for a condition they no longer have.
- c. Both a and b.
- d. Neither a nor b.
Answer: c. Both a and b.
43. A pharmacist providing MTM must be skilled in:
- a. Therapeutic knowledge.
- b. Communication.
- c. Documentation.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
44. Which of the following best describes a Targeted Medication Review (TMR)?
- a. A comprehensive review of all of a patient’s medications.
- b. A focused review addressing a specific, potential drug therapy problem.
- c. A review performed only for patients in the hospital.
- d. The same as a Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR).
Answer: b. A focused review addressing a specific, potential drug therapy problem.
45. The “Follow-up” step of the PPCP is crucial in MTM to:
- a. Bill for the initial service.
- b. Ensure the patient never returns.
- c. Monitor the outcomes of the care plan and make adjustments as needed.
- d. Fulfill a legal requirement only.
Answer: c. Monitor the outcomes of the care plan and make adjustments as needed.
46. MTM services are designed to improve health outcomes and what other key metric?
- a. Increase hospital readmissions.
- b. Reduce overall healthcare costs.
- c. Increase the number of prescriptions per patient.
- d. Increase the time spent in the pharmacy.
Answer: b. Reduce overall healthcare costs.
47. Identifying and resolving DTPs is a core objective in the IPPE curriculum.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
48. An active learning session on MTM is part of which course module?
- a. Module 5: Urological Disorders
- b. Module 1: Diabetes Mellitus
- c. Module 3: Women’s Health
- d. Module 6: Geriatrics
Answer: a. Module 5: Urological Disorders
49. A key difference between MTM and simple patient counseling is that MTM is:
- a. A systematic process that includes assessment, planning, and follow-up.
- b. Quicker and less detailed.
- c. Only focused on a single medication.
- d. Does not involve communicating with the patient.
Answer: a. A systematic process that includes assessment, planning, and follow-up.
50. The ultimate goal of learning about MTM is to:
- a. Be equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care that improves health outcomes.
- b. Learn how to bill Medicare Part D correctly.
- c. Pass the final exam.
- d. Memorize the five core elements.
Answer: a. Be equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care that improves health outcomes.